Brace and method of forming concrete structures



June 19, 1934. s. M. GOODER BRACE AND METHOD OF FORMING CONCRETESTRUCTURES Filed May l, 1931 6MM?- Qi.

Patented June 19, 1934 BRACE AND METHOD OF FORNIING CONCRETE STRUCTURESSeth M. Gooder, Chicago, Ill.

Application May 1, 1931, Serial No. 534,336

9 Claims.

This invention relates to an apparatus and a method for forming concretewalls and particularly for forming concrete walls and constructionsgenerally in trenches, holes, excavations,

or other constricted spaces although it is not limited in its use tothat particular association.

One object of the invention is to provide means for spacing and holdingWalls, retaining members or forms. If the invention be applied to aconstruction in which a wall is to be built in a trench, one object ofthe invention is to provide means for keeping the trench open by holdingapart the members which retain its sides. The device of this inventionmay also be used to retain a portion of the members which serve as theform for a concrete wall.

Another object of the invention is to provide in connection with amethod and apparatus of the sort suggested, means whereby the loadcarrying member of the prop or shore may be removed after the wall iscompleted so that it may be used again.

Other objects will appear from time to time in the specification andclaims.

My invention is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in theaccompanying drawing, whereinz- Figure 1 is a vertical cross section,showing the props of my invention in place ina wall during the processof formation;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross sectional detail on an enlarged scalethrough one of the props; A Y

Figure 3 is a sectional view through the wall,

.35 after the concrete is in place and after the load carrying member ofthe prop has been removed; Figure 4 is a detailed cross sectional Viewon an enlarged scale, showing a modified form of a portion of myinvention;

Figure 5 is a further modification;

Like parts are designated by like charactersl throughout thespecification and drawing.

A indicates a foundation upon which a wall is to be built. It may be anysuitable supporting k4.5 Surface, involving a prepared foundation ormereare formed, may be positioned horizontally and the vertical channelmembers which may be in relatively short sections, as indicated inFigure l, will then be positioned vertically. Whether or not either ofthese members are vertical or horizontal is a matter of convenience andthey might be arranged either way.

Since, however, they serve together as a retaining structure, it ispreferable that they are angularly disposed with respect to each otherso that one tends to reinforce the other. `Each of the channel members,while it may be of any suitable construction, is preferably built up ofa pair of angles C, C, which are welded together as at C1. This weld isordinarily not continuous throughout the length of the channel. As acentering and spacing member, rings C2 are preferably welded orotherwise fastened within'the channel as shown in Figures 2 and 3. Thiscentering member may be of any suitable construction but isrhere shownas formed of a rod bent into a circular shape and then welded to theinside of the channel. The wall members B1 are preferably associatedwith frame members C3 which will ordinarily be generally parallel to thechannel members C and, therefore, will run` at right angles to themembers which make up the walls B, B1. l

The prop construction -will now be described. The prop which is used ispreferably tubular and formed of a member D which is notched at one endas at D1. At its opposite end the tubular member D is positioned aboutone kof the centering rings C.2 as shown in detail in Figure 2. At its`other end it has seated in it a hollow interiorly threaded member D2which is preferably provided with a flange D3 and a projection D4 whichis. seated in the notch D1 of the tube D. A threaded relatively extendedmember 'D5 is engaged in the threaded member D2. The member D5 may carryat its outer end an enlargement D's which may be generally spherical asshown and provided with one or more perforations D7 through it. Theperforations D'7 serve as a means of engaging the screw and turning itand instead of such perforations other means might be used for engagingand turning the screw. The generally sphericalV member Ds is seated in aplate Ds which rests upon the frame member C3 and is provided with adepression D9 to receive and place and retain the spherical member D6.

Positioned about the tubular member D is asecond and preferably muchlighter tubular member E. This member may be in contact withV or out ofcontact with the member D. At its outer formed with a main generallycylindrical portion.,

F which preferably corresponds. in interior diameter to that of themember E,'and this pore tion of the thimble rests within the enlargementEl of the tube E. At its outer end the thimble F is provided with aninclined or flaredv portion F1 which may terminate `'in a laterally'extending flange F2. n When a wall is to be constructed, a form, inaddition to the walls already described, is preferably used. Such' aform is illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 and is shown as made up ofplanks or other separable members G. These members are ordinarilyperforated as at G1 so thatthe tubular member D may extend through theform. The thimble member of whatever design is arranged so that itsflange contacts or closely approaches the inner surfaceof the member ormembers G'.-

When the forms and props are in place, concrete I-I is poured orotherwise placed within the form, and the wall is built up with orwithout reinforcing. Any type of wall may be made, using my apparatusand method, which are equally applicable to a wide variety of walls andmy apparatus and method may be used in connection with the constructionof any sort of wall in which it isnecessary to provide props forretaining walls or forms during theconstruction of the wall.

After the wall has been completed'and it is desired to remove the props,that can be done readily because the load carrying portion of the prop;`including particularly the tubular member D, is not in contact with thewall but merely lies 'within a perforation formed within it, and

is retained or heldout of contact with it, by the tubular member E.Since this is the ease, the screw may be removed and the tube D andother parts may readily be pulled out. 'Thus the prop as a whole isremoved andthe relatively lighter retaining member with thethimble'whi'ch'is used with it", remains in the wall. otherV lli'ngmaterial H1' may then be Vputv in position withinfthis member and itremains in place vpermanently within the wall. The prop having beenremoved, it may be used again andl again. The outer formmade up of themembers G may also be removed. Ordinarily the wall B, ifit is located ina trench, has served as a retaining wall and thus lies betweenthe'surrounding material and the wall which has been built and,ltherefore, cannot be removed. v

Wallor pier or almost'any structural member and my claims are to beunderstood as not being lim-- iteslw a wallfIt will be realized thatwhereas I have herewith shown andvr described a practical operative defrvice, nevertheless ymany changes might be made Concrete or in the size,shape, number and disposition of parts without departing from the spiritof my invention and I wish therefore that my showing be taken as in asense diagrammatic. In particular the shielding member which surroundsthe jackscrew and which is of adjustable length might be made of asingle member instead of being formed of Vtwo relatively-movable' partsIt might, for example, be formed with corrugationsv permitting it to beelongated and shortened by variations in the corrugations. Where thespace adjacent the Wall is limited and it might be difficult to removethe tubular member D, as a unit, this member may be vmade sectional sothat the sections may be separately removed and thus the device may beused in extremely constricted quarters.

There is shown in Figure 5 a construction in which the outer sleevewhich surrounds the membe1'.D ismodied to reduce the Contact between thetwo and to reduce the friction. In this form of the invention, an outersleeve H is used and it is'inden'ted as at H1.V Such indentations may becircular or any other shape. Their effect is` to position the sleeve Hwith respect to .the member D but to limit the .contact between the two.Thus when the member D is removed,V the friction between the tworisreduced. At the outer end of the member as shown in Figure 5,-a thimbleI is provided.y It is generallysimilar to the thimble Fas shown Figure 4but instead of having an outwardly extending flange, 'it may have apluralityzof projecting members or tonguesA Il and these engage and areheld within a pre-cast concrete ring or block I2. This block or ring hasits outer surface, as at I3, inclined, grooved, roughened or otherwiseshaped so that when the wall is cast about it, it and the thimble whichis engaged in'it will be held in the wall.

The use and follows: -v

It will beV assumed that the device of this in vention is to be used asa prop for retaining in position a pair of walls. As the walls areformed, channel members and frame members such as the members C and C3are put into position. A

l prop'is positioned `at suitable intervals along the.

channel members and it bears at one end against.v a channel member andat the other end against a frame member such as the member C3. Thetprops may be put in position as units in which the retaining tubularmember E with the thimble E2 are in position about the prop' when it isvput in position or the prop may be put in posi-f tion separately. Theretaining member? E might be put in posi-tion,'then vthe thimbleinserted vin it and then the tubular member Dinserted after-H ward.However the prop is-placed in position, when it is to be used, the partsare shown indetail in Figure 2 and they occupy the general relativepositions shown in that figure. The distance between the forms forthewall cannot always be held uniform. For that reason the thimblevconstruction is used and permits some relative move- *Whereinthegvspecification and vclaims the expression vwall or walls is used inreference to ment of the thimble and themember E and thus the vtotallength of these two members may be increased or decreased so thatirrespectivefof.th'ejw Variation in the distance between the forms, fab'complete covering -is provided for the 'prop :D so that throughout theentire portion of its length" which lies within the forms it iscovered-'andi' will beheld out of contact with the wall'as ythe latteris constructed within-the `fo-rms.l When? the wall has been formed andthe 'propis no* longer necessary, it is removed bodily or in pieces andthe member E, with the thimble'E2,;wil1"re`-.

operation of my invention are asY iso main in position. The cavitywithin them may be filled as shown in Figure 3.

The thimble may be removed. Its removal is rendered easier withthetapered form of thimble shown in Figure 4. When the thimble is removed,the outer surface of the Wall may be nished up smooth without any metallips or parts projecting from it.

I claim:

1. In combination in a form spacing member, a load-carrying part, meansassociated with said member and surrounding said part and all of thatportion of the member which lies within the form, said associated meansbeing relatively weak and being formed of a plurality of parts mountedone about the other, and adapted to be relatively elongated andshortened.

2. In combination in a form spacing member, a load-carrying part, meansassociated with said member and surrounding said part and all of thatportion of the member which lies within the form, said associated meansbeing relatively weak and being formed of a plurality of hollow memberspositioned about said spacing member, said hollow members positioned onewithin the other, for relative elongating and shortening movement, thetwo members having substantially the same interior diameter. A

3. In combination in a form spacing member, means adapted to permitwithdrawal of the load carrying parts of the member from a structurecast about it after the form has been used in casting the structure,comprising a non-load carrying housing surrounding that portion of thespacing member which lies within the form, adapted to hold the same outof Contact with the cast-structure during and after casting.

4, In combination with a form spacing member for use in casting astructure, means adapted to permit withdrawal of the load carrying partsof the member after the form has been used in casting said structure,comprising a non-load carrying housing surrounding that portion of thespacing member which lies within the form, adapted to hold the same outof contact with the said structure during and after casting, saidhousing adapted to remain embedded in the structure after it iscompleted.

5. In combination in a wall structure, a plurality of retaining wallsadapted for use in casting a structure, and a prop adapted to positionsaid walls, said prop comprising a hollow load carrying member, and aco-operating member, the two forming together a jack-screw, and arelatively light hollow member, said member being positioned about thejack-screw and adapted to hold the cast structure out of contact withthe jack-screw.

6. In combination in a wall structure form, a plurality of retainingWalls adapted for use in forming a structure, and a prop adapted toposition said walls, said prop comprising a hollow load carrying member,and a co-operating member, the two forming together a jack-screw, and arelatively light hollow non-load carrying member, said member beingpositioned about a jackscrew and extending from end to end of thatportion of the jack-screw which is to be surrounded by the saidstructure, and adapted to hold the structure out of contact with thejackscrew.

7. The method of forming a wall within a constricted space, whichcomprises the following steps: erecting within said constricted spaceretaining walls, placing in position between saidv walls, to retainthem, an extensible prop, positioning about said prop a relatively lighthollow non-load carrying member, forming a structure about said prop andin contact with said hollow member, withdrawing the prop from the hollowmember.

8. The method of forming a wall Within a constricted space, whichcomprises the following steps: erecting Within said constricted spaceretaining walls, placing in position between said walls, to retain them,an extensible prop, positioning about said prop a relatively lighthollow non-load carrying member, casting a structure about said prop andin contact with said hollow member, withdrawing the prop from the hollowmember, and filling the interior of said hollow member after thewithdrawal of the prop.

9. The method of forming a structure which comprises the followingsteps: erecting retaining walls, placing in position between said wallsto retain them, an extensible prop, positioning about said prop, arelatively light and structurally weak hollow member, casting astructure about said prop and in contact with said hollow member,withdrawing the prop from the hollow member after the structure hasdried suiliciently and leaving the relatively light member permanentlywithin the structure.

SETH M. GOODER.

